As rapid connectivity demands more from our workforce and resources, it's time to revisit an established alternative to traditional fiber cabling: MicroDuct technology. Our Director of OSP Operations, Josh Collver, puts it best: "The telecommunications industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation as it transitions from GPON to XGSPON and other multi-gigabit technologies. While these hardware upgrades enhance network capacity, it is equally if not more essential to rethink the infrastructure that supports these advancements."
Read on to explore the role of MicroDucts in fiber broadband projects, compare this technology to conventional cabling systems, and understand why Irby Utilities chose Microtechnology for their latest fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) project with Woodruff Electric Cooperative.
What is MicroDuct technology?
MicroDucts are narrow conduits primarily used for the underground installation of fiber optic cables. They serve as protective channels that house these cables, allowing for efficient and scalable deployment in telecommunications projects.
Benefits of MicroDuct Technology
- Cost and Time Efficiency: While MicroDucts are commonly laid in shallower trenches, Irby places them deeper to reduce the risk of damage. These ducts will be laid using horizontal directional drilling, integrating well with existing workforce and equipment experience and eliminating the need for specialized labor crews. Additionally, MicroDucts’ small infrastructure reduces the complexity of permits, thus freeing more resources for faster deployment.
- Design and Conduit Flexibility: With a smaller and more adaptable design, MicroDucts can accommodate future expansions or network configurations at a lower cost and with less disruption. Often during the initial installation, more ducts are installed than originally required, and some are intentionally left empty. This design allows for future expansion without extensive excavation or drilling work. These small conduits also have tighter bend radii, allowing for more optimal network configurations without compromising performance or aesthetics.
- Network and Environmental Sustainability: Irby Utilities places the MicroDucts deeper than traditional micro-trenching technology, protecting fiber assets against surface-level construction, environmental elements, and excavation accidents. This reduced vulnerability—combined with MicroDucts’ ability to scale—results in a reliable, long-lasting broadband experience. Additionally, MicroDuct technology is inherently more environmentally sustainable due to its less invasive installation and expansion methods, reducing environmental disruption and the project’s carbon footprint.
Comparing MicroDuct technology to traditional fiber cabling systems reveals substantial cost, time efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability advantages. These benefits make MicroDucts a compelling choice for modern telecommunications infrastructure projects with significant underground cabling.
The Woodruff Electric Project: Pioneering MicroDuct Technology
The Woodruff Electric project represents a groundbreaking endeavor for Irby Utilities, as it marks the company's first FTTH deployment using MicroDuct technology. While the project is still in its early stages, Irby Utilities anticipates several potential benefits with this approach:
- Addressing Rural Challenges: Woodruff Electric Cooperative's service territory lacks existing pole assets, rendering the entire project underground. Irby identified MicroDuct technology as the most cost-effective solution, enhancing WECC’s competitiveness for grants. Ultimately, this deployment strategy enables WECC to serve more rural households at a lower total project cost.
- Labor and Cost Efficiencies: While excavation and heavy equipment are still required for this MicroDuct installation method, Irby Utilities anticipates substantial gains in labor and cost efficiency compared to conventional cabling systems, particularly as scalability becomes a primary focus.
- Future-Proofing: As data capacity requirements continually rise, MicroDucts enable WECC and Irby Utilities to expedite their broadband network deployment. Adding cables through existing MicroDuct conduits is much simpler than scaling traditional cabling systems, which requires additional trenching, splicing, and considerable disruption. Simultaneously, MicroDuct technology offers the flexibility to adapt to future population growth and newly developed areas.
Meeting Population Growth and Supporting Incoming Technology:
The ability to scale without extensive excavation is a significant advantage, particularly in densely populated areas. Likewise, MicroDuct technology ensures the infrastructure can support emerging technologies without costly upgrades.
While the Woodruff Electric project is just beginning, the benefits of MicroDuct technology represent a massive change in fiber-to-the-home deployment—marking a step toward faster, more affordable connectivity for all.